It is an important road since it is the only direct route between southern Quebec and the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.

Towns along the route in this section include: After Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Route 117 continues as a four-lane divided highway and winds its way through Laurentides Regional County Municipality until it reaches the town of Labelle.

While the reserve is popular for a variety of outdoor activities, services along the road are sparse.

This section is often considered one of the most dangerous routes in the province because of numerous fatal accidents, some involving tractor-trailers.

Towns along the route in this section include: The rivalry in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League between the Val-d'Or Foreurs and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, the only two QMJHL teams in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, is known as La Guerre de la 117 (French for "The War of the 117") due to both teams' home cities, Val-d'Or and Rouyn-Noranda, being located along Route 117.